Steve Reeves, Star of Italian HERCULES FIlms, Passes Away.

Date: Thursday, May 04, 2000
Source: The Washington Post

Steve Reeves, who appeared as Hercules in a series of Italian adventure films during the '50s and '60s, passed away May 1 at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, California. The former bodybuilder died of complications from lymphoma.
Born in Glasgow, Montana, Reeves grew up in Oakland, California, where he started bodybuilding at the age of 16. In 1947, Reeves won the title of Mr. America and three years later was named Mr. Universe.


At six foot one, 215-pounds Reeves easily fit into the lead role of Pietro Francisci's 1957 feature Hercules and the many sequels that followed. By the time he appeared in his last film, the 1968 Italian-made Western A Long Ride From Hell, Reeves was the highest paid actor in Europe.